§ MR. SEAGER HUNT (Marylebone, W.)asked the Postmaster General, If he will recommend an increase to the present allowance of 7d. per year for each year of service, awarded to postmen in London when they retire on a pension; and, whether, if the pension were raised to 10d., the extra 3d. could be paid out of the surplus moneys at present paid into the Exchequer by the Post Office, and arising from lapsed money orders, property lost in undelivered letters, and from the interest on the Guarantee Fund, now paid by each postman on entering the service?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The hon. Member's Question seems to imply that a postman's pension is restricted to 7d. a-year for each year of service. 1634 Such, however, is not the case. Postmen, like all other Civil servants, are pensioned according to a graduated scale, and this scale is fixed by Act of Parliament. It would be contrary to practice to pay such pensions by charges on particular Funds, and not out of General Revenue.